SHOCKING CHARGE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1818, 2 August 1913, Page 5

SHOCKING CHARGE.

THE ASYLUM CASE.

PATIENT AND WARDER,

STORY TOLD IN COURT. '

WAS THE PATIENT DONE TO DEATH?

(By Telegraph-Press Association.) Christchurch, August 1, The Courthouso was crowded to-daj; when Joseph Martin Chapman, an attendant at the Sunnyside Mental Hospital, appeared, before Mr. T. A. B. Bailey, S.M., on a charge that, on July 8, he did murder Charles Thomas M'Meckin, a patient. Mr, M. Donnelly appeared for the defence.

Eliza Jano M'Meekin, wifo of tho doceased patient, stated that her husband had been admitted to tho Sunnysido Asylum on July 7. Prior to that dato he had showed signs of lunacy, Ono of his oyes was completely gone, and tho other was badly affected. Ho was, in fact, almost blind. Ho had never, at nny time, been violent.

The Struggle James Todd, Asylum attendant, stated that, ou tho day after M'Meckin's admission, he went along tho passago of tho ward at about 12.30 p.m. Ho was going to attend to tiio dinner duties, and ho Baw accused (Chapman), who said: "Come here, Tood; you're just the man I want." 1 , Chapman then informed liirn that there was a patient kicking up a row, and' indicated M'Mcekin's room. Just as he opened the door M'Meekin rushed at Chapman, and Chapman closed with. 1 him. They fell to tho floor, and then* Chapman got up, put M'Meekin in. a 1 bitting position, and delivered throo severe blows on the chest. Chapman also ■ hit the patient on tho jaw with both hands. Chapman then put M'Meekin, ivho was only dressed in a flannel, on the bed, and hit him in tho abdomen with his boot. He kicked him three times with his heel. "That's Enough! That'll Do I" "It looked pretty severe," added witness. I'ho patient called out: "That's enough! That'll do!" Witness then 6aid! to Chapman, "You ought to have a little; mercy on the man." 110 (witness) had! begun to. tuck M'Meekin into bed when,' Mr. Stephens cams into the room. Stephens said: "I don't like tho look of that man. You'd better go and make a re'--port about him." Witness and others then left the room; Tho accused Chapman had said to witness: "Sit tight, and say nothing about it!"- This had been said both before and' after M'Meekm'a death l . Cross-examined: How wero the blows delivered? , , Witness: In rapid succession. How did Chapman deliver them?—'"Ho was stooping down." In what position was M'Meckin when Chapman lut him on tho jaw?—"Ho was still sitting." , How many times did ho hit him?— "Twice-onco with the left and onco with' tho right." Did those blows knock M'Meekin downP —"No." Who lifted M'Meekin off tho floor?— "Chapman and I." You say that while M'Meekin wes on tho bed, Chapman jabbed him with his heel in tho abdomen?—" Yes." And you never interfered?—"l remonstrated with Chapman." Whin was tho first man to whom yott gave this account of what happened?— "Dr. Gow, Medical Superintendent." When ?—"On tho Saturday' following." You mado no mention of It till after tho inquest?—" Yes, to several attendants." Is there a rule that a gross assault should be reported?—" Yes." You mado no official report until the ma,n was buried ?—"No." Why?—"l was a bit bewildered by Chapman telling me to sit tight, 'ho being "second in charge." What excuso can you offer for not interfering?—" Did I not interfere?" You did not try to restrain him?—"l asked him to stop." "Do You Want Me to Make a Falsa Statement?" Thomas John Stephens (attendant at the asylum) stated that on passing M'Mcekin's room ho noticed Todd and Chapman. M'Meckin was lying on tho bed, and Chapman was standing over tho patient with his foot raised. Witness said: , "Hello! What's this?" Chapman replied that ho had had somo trouble with.. M'Meekin. Witness saw that M'Meekin was a little pale,, and rolling about ou the bed as if in pain. Witness said to Chapman: "I think by the look of him that you had better report him." Next day Chapman came to witness's room and said: "I want you to say that Attendant Todd was never in the room." Witness asked Chapman: "What do you mean? Do you want me to make a false ; Statement?" "Oh," ho replied, "you knowi say he wasn't in tho room." "Give liiin-a Good Dumping." James Ccaklcy, another attendant, also gave evidence. Jlc stated, that he relieved Chapman at about 5 p.m. in order that Chapman might go to tea. He added: "About five minutes after Chapman camo back lie asked me .how I hod got on with tho patient, and I told him that I had got on all right." Did Chapman say anything elsoP— "He said that the patient deserved, a good '• dumping. Chapman's exact words were: 'If you goi four men to give him a good dumping. Ho desorves it.' " Next day Chapman called witness into his room and_ showed him tho report book. What did lie show you?—" That tho. patient M'Meckin had mado a violent attack on Attendant Coakloy. Chapman asked me Jo swear to that." What did you say?—"l told him that it wasn't true." Missing Leaf in Report Book, Have you since seen tho report book? Is tho leaf still there, or is it missingP—"l don't know." Do you know if there is h pago missing?—"l don't know." Tho Magistrate: Who reports in this book?—" The attendant in charge." Tho Chief detective remarked that tho page between those for July 7 and 8 was torn out. Tho Magistrate (to witness): Where was it written ?—"About tho bottom of tho ' book." Charles Henry Sykcs, night attendant, was tho noxt witness. When ho went on duty Chapman told witness to bo careful, nnd that _ M'Meekin had been rushing out. banging tho door, and wanting his clothes and a smoke. Chapman slated that tlio best thing to do was for one of them to hold M'Mcekin's 'hands behind his book, and tho other to hit him with' his fist in tho stomach. In conversation with witness. Chapman hnd said, on ono occasion: "Tho hH; thing to do with somo of those old men is to put your heel into tlwi.r guts." Patient in Great Pain. Arthur Duckworth, night attendant, said that ho started dudv on July 8. at 8 p.m. M'Meekin fainted, nnd seemed to be in terrible pain. In (ho morning ho gavo tho patient a bath, and noticed a . bru.iso just uiulnr tho pit of the stomach. M'Mcckm could not bear wiping down with a towel—ho was too '.'ore. ITe saw Chapman that, morning, and told him that M'Meokin complained that ho had bosn kicked by an attendant. Chapman made no reply; be just laughed. Several other wiliicses wore examined concerning tho alleged attack. Chargo Reduced to Manslaughter Dr. Westenra, who conducted the postmortem examination, was also called, and evidence was also given by Dr. HamsboWom and Dr.' Gow, of the hospital staff. Tho .charge was reduced to manslaughter. and accused was committed for trial, bail in self of »C3OO, nnd two sureties of .6150 each, or ono of ,£3OO.